Travel arrangements to the UK of 16 Israeli youth leaders were expedited this week in anticipation of a travel ban.
The new arrivals bring to 38 the number of Israeli madrichim here to lead UJIA-backed programmes for teenagers whose Israel tours have been cancelled because of the pandemic.
UJIA told the JC that it had “worked very quickly to make sure that the Israeli leaders still wanted to come and are catered for appropriately while here”.
Even if they were required to quarantine upon their return to Israel, the leaders were “willing to do so because of the impact they will achieve providing a meaningful summer for young people”.
Those here include Bnei Akiva leaders Avital Borvick and Dafna Hindi, who have fronted activities for 120 campers — from hiking in Wales to a day at Alton Towers. They have taught their charges some Hebrew slang and encouraged dialogue about Israeli life and politics.
The UK teenagers “really want the information; they want the conversation”, stressed Ms Borvick, 20. “We could offer a different perspective.”
The pair also experienced the highs and lows of following England’s footballers at the delayed Euro 2020. Both cheered on Gareth Southgate’s team during the final against Italy having become invested in the failed bid to win the tournament. Ms Hindi, 21, enjoyed her initiation to “British banter and sarcasm”.
Although double jabbed, both initially had fears about coming to the UK given the Covid situation. But they are tested every two days, which has been reassuring.
Habonim Dror leader Zach Freund had found travelling by plane during the pandemic “a bit surreal” but reasoned: “You have to roll with it.”
However, the 26-year-old from Haifa checks news websites every day to keep up with the Covid situation back home.
The Habonim Dror camp in Dorset was essentially “outside all of the time to make things as risk-free as possible”, he reported.
“And within that, we’re trying to do it in a way that feels liberating and empowering.”
An early memorable experience had been participating in an outdoor Kabbalat Shabbat service, which had felt “natural and warm” despite social distancing. “There was a sense of community which struck me — the image of 70 young Jews having Shabbat together. There’s something really nice and heart-warming about that.”
Mr Freund, whose background is Australian, made aliyah four years ago to “lead a more holistic Jewish life”.When it was confirmed that UK Habonim teens would be unable to travel to Israel, he felt it “important to come to Habonim”.
